Ostomy bag emptying accessory for use with a toilet

ABSTRACT

An emptying apparatus for use with a toilet. The toilet includes a toilet bowl and a tank in communication with the bowl. A water supply is in communication with the tank. The apparatus includes a seat supported upon a rim of the toilet bowl, the seat exhibits a specified shape, size and thickness and includes at least one pull-out side drawer. A length of a rigid conduit projects from a side extending location of the seat. A sink is secured to an extending end of the conduit, typically in a laterally spaced relationship relative to the toilet bowl, the sink further including a recessed interior and an inner rim. A fluid line extends from the water supply, to a location proximate the sink inner rim, and includes an on/off valve such that it facilitates the drainage of fluidic contents poured into the sink to communicate through the conduit and be deposited within the toilet bowl.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to ostomy cleaning accessories and, more particularly, to an ostomy bag emptying accessory for use with a toilet.

2. Description of the Prior Art

The prior art is well documented with examples of technologies related to the care and cleaning of the standard ostomy bag. As is known in the medical art, such collection bags are secured to a location proximate a user's midsection and which is communicable with a connecting tube medically implanted to in turn communicate with a user's waste recycling system. The bag is used to facilitate the collection of human wastes (urine and feces), given the otherwise failure of the human body for attending to such functions.

An objective is the desire to facilitate easy and sanitary cleaning of the ostomy bag, which is typically reused over a period of time. A first example drawn from the prior art is set forth in U.S. Pat. No. 5,503,633, issued to Saunders et al., and which teaches an apparatus for cleaning an ostomy bag worn by a patient. The cleaning apparatus is configured in three embodiments capable of fixed installation, portable use, or bedside use.

The apparatus of the fixed and portable embodiments provides a support for a patient at a sufficient height above a toilet bowl in the form of a platform having support bars with security stops and a chute removably hung from said platform to discharge excreta into the bowl. The fixed embodiment employs a hose for attachment to a house water supply and a nozzle adapted to clean within the ostomy bag. The portable embodiment employs a reservoir which supplies pressurized water either by elevation or by use of a portable pump. The convalescent embodiment is adapted to be used at the bedside and has a fluid reservoir/portable pump, hose and a collecting tank, such as a bedpan mounted to receive the excreta being cleaned from the ostomy bag.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,500,480, issued to Michal, Jr., teaches a urinal attachment for a toilet bowl including a disposable duct mounted adjacent the toilet bowl and formed from a flexible, inexpensive, and waterproof sheet material and normally flat for ready storage as well as insertion between the rim of the toilet bowl and a seat normally disposed in slightly spaced relationship to the rim. The duct is of a nature to kill the sound of splashing of liquid while passing between the urinal attachment and discharging from the lower end of the duct which normally is disposed within the interior of the toilet bowl and is anchored adjacent the rim of the bowl so as to prevent dislodgment during use. The duct is readily connectible to and removable from the urinal attachment and the toilet bowl when replacement is desired.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,554,821, issued to Stringer et al., teaches a peritoneal waste bag support and drainage device having a pair of front legs, a pair of rear legs, and a flat horizontal table extending over the front and rear legs. The table has a front end, a rear end, a top surface, and a bottom surface. Each pair of legs has a main portion and a bottom sleeve. The main portion extends downward from the bottom surface of the table, while the bottom sleeve extends upward from the ground and envelopes the main portion of the legs. In order to adjust the lengths of the legs, the main portion is slid inside the corresponding bottom sleeve until the desired height is reached. In particular, and to facilitate peritoneal waste flow, the front legs should be adjusted to a shorter height than the rear legs. The device is further collapsible to allow for storage beside a toilet when not in use, or carried to various destinations when traveling.

Finally, U.S. Pat. No. 5,671,485, issued to Middlestead, teaches a device which is specifically adapted to support a colostomy bag over the opening of a toilet. This device, which facilitates the cleaning of the bag by a user or a caregiver, includes a support formed from a metallic wire and which further includes a first grasping end, a second grasping end and a circular spring formed therebetween. The first grasping end is adapted to removably grasp one rim of a toilet. Oppositely positioned from the first grasping end is a second grasping end adapted to removably grasp the opposite rim of the toilet. The centrally disposed spring functions to support the upper end of a colostomy bag over the opening of the toilet.

SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

The present invention discloses an ostomy bag emptying accessory for use with a toilet. The toilet includes a toilet bowl and a tank in communication with the bowl. A water supply is in communication with the tank.

A specially modified seat is supported upon a rim of the toilet bowl and exhibits a specified shape, size and thickness. Typically the seat includes a width of sufficient dimension to secure an end of a length of a rigid conduit projecting from the seat. The seat may also include at least one pull-out side drawer.

A sink is secured to an extending end of the conduit and in a laterally spaced relationship relative to the toilet bowl. The sink further includes a recessed interior and an inner rim. A fluid line extends from the water supply to a location proximate the sink inner rim, the fluid line includes an on/off valve to selectively communicate a water flow to the sink receptacle. In this fashion, fluidic contents poured into the sink communicate through the conduit and are deposited within the toilet bowl for subsequent flushing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Reference will now be made to the attached drawings, when read in combination with the following detailed description, wherein like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views, and in which:

FIG. 1 is an environmental view of the ostomy bag emptying accessory mounted to a conventional toilet and according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the ostomy bag sub-assembly according to the present invention; and

FIG. 3 is a succeeding exploded view of the ostomy bag sub-assembly according to a further variant of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring now to FIG. 1, an emptying accessory is illustrated at 10 according to a first desired embodiment of the present invention. As described previously, the present invention is particularly suited for facilitating the emptying of a medically attached ostomy bag, referenced representatively at 8 in FIG. 1. In particular, it is desirable to provide for ease of emptying fluidic (fecal/urine related) waste contents accumulated within the bag 8 and through a plug opening 9 associated with the bag.

The emptying accessory is for use with a toilet bowl 12, the same including an attached tank 14. A water supply source is referenced at 16 and fluidly interconnects with the toilet tank 14 by virtue of a conduit 18.

Referring again to FIG. 1, the apparatus includes a seat 20 supported upon a rim of the toilet bowl 12. The seat 20 in the first preferred embodiment substitutes for a conventional, typically thinner, toilet seat (not shown) and exhibits a specified shape, size and thickness with a centrally disposed (typically oval) opening. The seat 20 is further typically constructed of a sanitary type material, such as polymer (or hardened plastic) and may also include a foam cushioning upper surface either integrally formed or applied onto a hardened plastic substrate (see as graphically represented at 21 in FIG. 1).

As further illustrated in the exploded view of FIG. 2, the seat 20 may include one or more pivoting or pull-out drawers 22, and such as which will facilitate the storage of such as ostomy related supplies, in particular including clips and the like. The seat 20 may further include one or more apertures, see at 24 in FIGS. 1 and 2 and both 24 and 26 in the revised variant 20′ of FIG. 3, the apertures being formed through side facing edges of the seat.

The apertures 24 and 26 are preferably mounted to opposite angularly extending sides of the seat 20 and at angular offsets relative to a front centerline, see such as at 28 in FIG. 2. In a preferred application, the apertures are angularly offset 60° each from the centerline 28, see offset line 30 corresponding to aperture 24 and opposite offset line 32 corresponding to aperture 26.

A length of a rigid conduit, see at 32, projects from a side extending location of the seat 20 and such as in particular from a mounting relationship with a selected one of the apertures 24 and 26 formed in the sides of the seat 20. In a majority of instances, the conduit 32 is secured to the right side aperture 24 however, and in instances where an ostomy bag is secured to a left side of a user, the conduit 32 is secured to the left side aperture 26. The conduit 32 is further typically a PVC or like rigid material and includes first and second angularly disposed portions.

A sink 34 is secured to an extending end of the conduit 32, and typically in a laterally spaced relationship relative to the toilet bowl 12 and seat 20. The sink 34 illustrated exhibits a generally rectangular shape, such as having a 4″×8″ dimension, and can be constructed of a number of different materials, such as further including a sanitary plastic or the like. The sink 34 further includes a recessed interior 36 defined in part by an inner rim 38.

A fluid line 40 extends from the water supply 16, and such as via a “T” connector fitting 42 arranged in parallel to the toilet water supply line 18, to a location proximate the sink inner rim 38. A drain 46 is located at a bottom of the sink interior and communicates with an open inserting end 48 of the conduit 32, an opposite conduit end 50 engaging the suitable aperture 24 or 26.

An on/off valve 50 is located proximate the sink 20 and such that it facilitates the drainage of the fluidic contents poured into the sink 20 to communicate through the conduit 32 and be deposited within the toilet bowl 12. The valve 50 includes an end fitting which secures to a nipple 52 projecting from an outer edge of the sink 34 and which communicates to an inner rim location.

In use, an individual (not shown) is seated upon the specially modified toilet seat 20 (and which may be either pivotally or non-pivotally secured upon the toilet bowl rim). An ostomy bag, see again at 8 and which is surgically secured to the patient, is positioned over or within the open interior 38 of the sink. At that point, the plug 9 is opened and the fluidic (or semi-fluidic) human waste contents are poured into the sink 34 for communication through the conduit and into the bowl 12 interior for subsequent flushing. The fluid line 40 is activated by the on/off valve 50 to fully dispose of and clear the contents from the sink 34 and conduit 32 and into the bowl 12.

Having described my invention, other and additional preferred embodiments will become apparent to those skilled in the art to which it pertains and without deviating from the scope of the appended claims. 

1. An emptying apparatus for use with a toilet, the toilet including a toilet bowl and a tank in communication with the bowl, a water supply being in communication with the tank, said apparatus comprising: a seat supported upon a rim of the toilet bowl; a length of a conduit projecting from a side extending location of said seat; a sink secured to an extending end of said conduit and in a laterally spaced relationship relative to the toilet bowl; and a fluid line extending from the water supply to a location associated with said sink; fluidic contents poured into said sink communicating through said conduit and depositing within the toilet bowl.
 2. The emptying apparatus as described in claim 1, said seat exhibiting a specified shape and size with an outer facing side of a thickness sufficient for receiving an inserting end of said conduit.
 3. The emptying apparatus as described in claim 2, further comprising at least one aperture formed through said side of said seat for receiving said inserting end of said conduit.
 4. The emptying apparatus as described in claim 3, said conduit exhibiting a specified shape and size and further comprising a rigid material.
 5. The emptying apparatus as described in claim 4, said conduit further comprising first and second angularly disposed portions and being constructed of at least a PVC material.
 6. The emptying apparatus as described in claim 5, said sink exhibiting a specified shape and size and further comprising a recessed interior for receiving a drainage outlet associated with an ostomy bag.
 7. The emptying apparatus as described in claim 6, further comprising an inner rim associated with said sink, an outlet of said fluid line communicating the water supply with said rim.
 8. The emptying apparatus as described in claim 1, further comprising a splitter adapted to being secured to the water supply and for separately supplying the water tank and said accessory sink.
 9. The emptying apparatus as described in claim 8, said fluid line further comprising an on/off valve located in proximity to said sink.
 10. The emptying apparatus as described in claim 1, said seat exhibiting a specified shape and size and being constructed of at least one of a polymer and a foam cushioning material.
 11. The emptying apparatus as described in claim 1, said seat exhibiting a specified shape and size and including at least one outwardly actuating side drawer.
 12. An emptying apparatus for use with a toilet, the toilet including a toilet bowl and a tank in communication with the bowl, a water supply being in communication with the tank, said apparatus comprising: a seat supported upon a rim of the toilet bowl, said seat exhibiting a specified shape, size and thickness and including at least one pull-out side drawer; a length of a rigid conduit projecting from a side extending location of said seat; a sink secured to an extending end of said conduit and in a laterally spaced relationship relative to the toilet bowl, said sink further comprising a recessed interior and an inner rim; and a fluid line extending from the water supply to a location proximate said sink inner rim, said fluid line further comprising an on/off valve; fluidic contents poured into said sink communicating through said conduit and depositing within the toilet bowl.
 13. An emptying apparatus for use with a toilet, comprising: a seat supported upon a rim of the toilet; a length of a conduit projecting from a side extending location associated with said seat; and an open interior receptacle secured to an extending end of said conduit and in a laterally spaced relationship relative to the toilet; fluidic contents poured into said sink communicating through said conduit and depositing within the toilet bowl.
 14. The emptying apparatus as described in claim 1, further comprising a fluid line extending from a water supply associated with the toilet and extending to a location associated with said sink.
 15. The emptying apparatus as described in claim 13, said conduit exhibiting a specified shape and size and further comprising a rigid material.
 16. The emptying apparatus as described in claim 14, further comprising an on/off valve located in proximity to said sink.
 17. The emptying apparatus as described in claim 13, said seat exhibiting a specified shape and size and including at least one outwardly actuating side drawer.
 18. The emptying apparatus as described in claim 13, said conduit further comprising first and second angularly disposed portions and being constructed of at least a PVC material. 